Personal Development Articles

“It is never too late to be what you might have been.”
– George Eliot

Your past, your life experiences – they have shaped you and turned you into the person you are today.

Hopefully through many positive experiences, but likely including some negative ones as well.

When you take those experiences and learn from them, or look back on fond memories your past is an asset. Your past supports your goals for the future.

On the other hand, if you are behold to past failures, or regrets, and don’t let go of them – your past can be a liability.  Those mental, limiting beliefs can end up stopping you from achieving what you are fully capable of:  your ability may be there, but your belief may not be.

“Silent gratitude isn’t much use to anyone.”
– G.B. Stern

Did you know that half of American’s don’t always say thanks (Source)?  

Regardless if you’re the type to always say thanks or not, you’re likely going to need to write a thank you card at some point.  Especially around the holidays, when you’ll be receiving gifts – and will want to ensure you show your appreciation.

Like any other task, I like to complete thank you cards both effectively and efficiently.  

To do that, I’ll first discuss how to make sure my card is effective: thinking through the purpose of thank you cards and how to word your thank you note.  

I’ll then put it together in one easy template for your thank you card – so you can ensure your thank you cards can be written efficiently, but still hit all the right notes.

Don’t rush through thank you cards – they matter. I just like to make sure I have a plan.

“Many are stubborn in pursuit of the path they have chosen, few in pursuit of the goal. “
– Friedrich Nietzsche

Years ago, my buddy Srinivas and I launched what through many twists and turns he has now built into The Unmistakeable Creative – a podcast where Srini has conducted over 600 interviews with thought leaders and people from all walks of life.

Since then Srini has gone on to do some crazy things…including crazy successful things, like writing a Wall Street Journal bestseller, The Art of Being Unmistakable and his newest published book Unmistakable: Why Only Is Better Than Best

The fact that Srini has taken his talents so far is no accident though. The podcast series we originally launched together might have never been started, and certainly wouldn’t have the success it has had, if it wasn’t for one of us stepping up, and being just stubborn enough for us to succeed.

Yesterday a friend of mine asked me if I take “time off” in December.

The truth is…Yes And No.

I never really just let time pass.

I’m either “on” working on my goals, or I’m “on” doing things that may not be “productive” but just make my life better.

It could be relaxing. It could be enjoying time with family, or I might be “on” with new experiences – whether that’s something exotic like travel, or just new to me like reading.

But I try not to take days “off” where I just let them slide, with no idea where the day went.

In financial planning, I always try to give every dollar a job.

Some dollars go to my future. Some dollars go to taking care of my day to day needs like housing, food, etc. And some dollars go towards having a good time.

I feel the same way about time.

“Follow effective action with quiet reflection. From the quiet reflection will come even more effective action.”
– Peter F. Drucker

Too often in life we can get caught up in the unimportant, and lose sight of the gifts we have right in front of us. We can also lose our way, or forget the reasons we took on projects or goals in the first place.

For this reason, I like to think back over the last past twelve months, and plan for the year ahead by reflecting with a list of powerful questions I’ve developed over the years.

I’ve been cutting many non-essentials out of my life, and apply the same approach to my self reflection – focusing on only the questions that matter the most.

Here now is my intentionally short list :the most important (reflective) questions you’ll answer this year.